Chapter 34: If you misunderstand me, it’s better that way

To my request, Lars-sama seemed a little surprised.

He looked away and had a thinking expression.

“Were you surprised?”

I couldn’t help but ask, and Lars-sama honestly nodded.

“Yes. I thought you were coming to ask for protection.”

“Protection…”

“If you saw your father’s future as a serious criminal, you would normally be afraid to be arrested. It is certain that the whole family will be arrested and chained in a prison. When you think about escaping from there, women should look for someone or a situation that can prove that they are innocent. That’s why I thought you were asking for protection from me…”

Indeed, I also wanted to do it at first.

I go to someone who can help me and claim “I didn’t do anything”. It’s the easiest way.

But probably, that won’t work.

It’s fine if my father just guides the invasion.

I am——a person who has helped a neighboring country and is hated by those around me. And no matter how I try to excuse myself, I feel like they will claim that I tried to harm “her” and be thrown into prison.

From the dreams I’ve seen so far, I felt that way.

No matter what I say, I will be treated as the person who participated in the crime of guiding the neighboring country…

That’s why being just protected is not enough.

“I need a way to live without being a noblewoman.”

“Is that becoming a commoner…?”

I nodded.

“Even if I am protected… I thought it would not be solved. As long as there is a blood connection, there will be people who doubt my involvement. If it is the royal family, it will also cause trouble for Lars-sama and the others.”

If Lars-sama is suspected just because of my relationship with him… I’ve finally met someone who’s willing to be my friend, and I don’t want that to happen.

Lars-sama listened to my answer and seemed to speculate further.

“Miss Linea. Was the dream you saw… a direct dream of you being caught? That’s why you’re taking such desperate action?”

“I am…”

Deep down, I feared Lars-Sama.

I wonder why he can see through it so much.

But it’s me who is making a request to Lars-sama. I think his burden will be much less if he doesn’t appear in the forefront in the form of protection.

Even so, he doesn’t look overwhelmed by my strange decision to give up being a noble lady.

Proving it, Lars-sama adds.

“Of course I want to help you as much as I can, as a way of apologizing for giving you nightmares. However, I want to know what you are looking for when you cooperate.”

“What do you mean by …?”

“Is it the best to completely cut off ties in response to your request, or should we look for another way together?”

Lars-sama smiles.

“When I saw the dream with the sacred flower, I thought that what you were worried about was this. Because other humans who ate the same sacred flower sweets also saw the future in their dreams, I thought you saw the same thing in your dream.”

When you think about it, it was something that could be easily guessed.

“Anyone would be worried if their family was involved in leading an invasion.

“I wonder if maybe that’s why you thought about running away from the Elvasti house? And the fact that you are now in this mansion, and haven’t come to the Academy for a few days, is all because of that?”

Even I find it hard to deny it at this point.

It seems like Lars-sama is already convinced of it.

But perhaps Lars-sama is imagining that my father will be caught and the Elvasti house will fall?

He doesn’t seem to think that I myself will be put in prison as the villainess. Maybe he thinks it was just a nightmare of the house falling and being lost?

(I don’t want it to be known that I became a criminal… Let’s keep it hidden while talking.)

I think again, in a different sense.

If I were to talk about the content of the dream, Lars-sama, who caused the nightmare, would surely be worried.

“That’s right, Lars-sama. It was a dream about my father… with the neighboring country.”

“It’s definitely a nightmare no matter how you look at it. I’m sorry for involving you in such strange things, even though you already have a lot to worry about.”

I shook my head at Lars-sama, who apologized.

“On the contrary, I am grateful. Thanks to you, I may be able to escape from the worst future. I think I have obtained that opportunity.”

I was able to become more positive thanks to my skills.

Since I was able to receive less maliciousness from outside, I had some leeway in my heart. And I came to think that I might be able to do something myself, or maybe I could live alone…

“To show that you mean what you say… wearing servant’s clothes?”

Oh, this was just convenient for escaping.

But for now, I’ll just nod.

I thought it would be more “appropriate.” It is selfish, but I want to take advantage of this happy misunderstanding.